ADDRESS of Ms. Malala Yousafzai Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize to both Houses of Parliament in the House of Commons Chamber Ottawa on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 1 ADDRESS Malala, you are a paragon of goodness in your words and your of actions, which have struck a chord with Canadians and with Ms. Malala Yousafzai people around the world. Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize to both Houses of Parliament [English] in the House of Commons Chamber Yours is a story of an ordinary girl doing extraordinary things, Ottawa an everyday hero, a trailblazer and a teenager, a renegade and a on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 reader, a fearless advocate and a girl who wants nothing more than to see more kids in classrooms. On top of that, you are impossibly humble. We Canadians are all about that. Ms. Malala Yousafzai was welcomed by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable George When you accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, you said, “I tell my Furey, Speaker of the Senate; and the Honourable Geoff Regan, story, not because it is unique, but because it is not.” When you Speaker of the House of Commons. spoke at the UN, you said, “I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” [Translation] Ladies and gentlemen, this is the true embodiment of leadership and service. We should all wish to serve so honourably in our own The Speaker: I invite the Right Hon. Prime Minister to speak. lifetimes. [English] Malala, you have given light to boys and girls mired in darkness, and you have challenged women and men of all backgrounds to be better so that we may do better. One area Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Honoured where we must all do better is in educating our young people. We guests, parliamentarians, colleagues, and friends, it is a pleasure know that only through education can we achieve true peace. to be here today to host one of the newest and possibly bravest I say that not only as a husband, father, and community member. citizens of Canada, Malala Yousafzai. I, first and foremost, say that as a teacher. I was lucky enough to teach some really great kids in B.C. for Malala, it is a privilege to welcome you to our House, and now five years, and they taught me that going to school is about more that you are an honorary Canadian, I hope you will consider this than just learning how to read and write. It is about challenging your House too. Welcome. your world view, it is about innovation, and it is about solving problems by working together. Education has the power to Malala's story is one we know well. It is both exceptional and change the world. It can end poverty, fight climate change, and familiar, out of this world, and sadly, commonplace. Years ago, prevent wars, but in order to achieve progress, we all have to we heard all about this bold, brave girl from Swat Valley who make sure that all children, girls as well as boys, get to go to stood up to the Taliban, a whip-smart, politically engaged school. 12-year-old who was inspiring other kids to raise their voices and lead by example, a girl whose greatest want in life was to go I could not imagine a world where my sons, Xavier and to school, a girl who refused to be silenced. With hope, we stood Hadrien, could enjoy the gift of learning but my daughter, in awe of her, and with horror, we watched as cowards tried to Ella-Grace, could not. She, like so many other little girls, loves to take her life. Still, as the world prayed while she recovered, we learn, and she would be devastated if she had that right taken were reminded that a bullet is no match for an idea, that in the from her. face of evil, what is right and what is good will always prevail. [Translation] [Translation] It is no secret that women and girls have always had to fight, and they still have to fight, to obtain many things that men take for granted: the right to vote, the right to serve their country, the Malala, when you said that you harbour no ill will against your right to pay equity, and the right to decide when to start a family. would-be assassin, you manifested a profound goodness that Sadly, it would take me all day to give an exhaustive list. Canadians can identify with. However, the success of any society depends on the full Just a few months ago, a Quebec City mosque was the target of participation of women and girls, and that always begins with a terrorist attack. That senseless act of violence left six innocent education. Here in Canada, we make sure that our children have people dead. They were husbands, fathers, sons. Even in the wake the skills they need to live a full life in a rapidly changing world. of that crime, Canadians stood united. We did not turn against As Minister of Youth and a father to young children, obviously, one another. Neighbours did not turn their backs on each other. education is a personal priority of mine. We did not succumb to hatred or fear. Last month we announced funding for a new program to teach kids the basics of coding and digital skills development. We are By taking positive action, as we always try to do in Canada, we helping more teens from low-income communities complete high told the rest of the world that we would not answer violence with school. We are investing in programs that encourage young violence, that we would instead answer fear and hatred with love people, girls and boys alike, to take an interest in science, and compassion. technology, engineering, and math. 2 April 12, 2017 [English] men to killed 132 school children in Pakistan's Army Public School in Peshawar, the same hatred as the man who shot me and We are building and repairing schools to ensure that every my two school friends. indigenous student living on-reserve receives a good education. For too long, these children have been neglected. That is These men have tried to divide us and destroy our democracies, unacceptable, and we must do more. our freedom of religion, our right to go to school, but we and you refuse to be divided. Canadians, wherever you were born and For the sake of boys and girls around the world, for the sake of however you worship, stand together, and nothing proves this our future, the time to act is now. more than your commitment to refugees. My friends, we know that progress starts as an idea rooted in conviction, brought to life by the right words, and driven into Around the world, we have heard about Canada's heroes. action with courage. We heard about the members of the First United Church here We call on our brothers and sisters around the world to speak in Ottawa who sponsored newlyweds Amina and Ebrahim. A few boldly and without fear, knowing in their hearts that the right months later, the family had their first child, a little girl named words at the right time can make change happen. Marya. The church decided to raise more money to bring Ebrahim's brother and family to Canada so Marya could grow up Malala, you chose hope. You chose dignity. You chose with her cousins. determination, and children around the world thank you for it. Today, in this country and in this chamber, we honour you. We heard about Jorge Salazar in Vancouver, who came to Canada as a child refugee, fleeing violence in Colombia. As a Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, it is my great privilege to young adult, he is working with today's child immigrants and introduce to you a champion for education and a fearless new refugees, helping them adapt to the new culture and country. Canadian, Malala Yousafzai. Ms. Malala Yousafzai (Co-Founder of Malala Fund): Bismillah I am very proud to announce that Farah Mohamed, a refugee hir rahman ir rahim. In the name of God, the most merciful, the who fled Uganda and came to Canada as a child, is Malala most beneficent. Good afternoon. Bonjour. Assalaam-u-alikum. Fund's new CEO. A Canadian will now lead the fight for girls' education around the world. Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Trudeau, Sophie, Mr. Speaker, members of the House, members of the Senate, distinguished Many people from my own country of Pakistan have found a guests, my parents, Ziauddin and Toor Pekai, and finally, the promised land in Canada, from Maria Toorpakai Wazir, a people of Canada, thank you so much for the warm welcome to famous squash player, to my relatives here today. your country. This is my first trip to Canada but not my first attempt. On Like the refugees in Canada and all around the world, I have October 22, 2014, my father and I landed at the Toronto airport, seen fear and experienced times when I did not know if I was safe excited for a first visit to your wonderful country. Soon we or not. I remember how my mom used to put a ladder at the back learned that a man had attacked Parliament Hill, killing a of our house so that if anything happened, we could escape. Canadian soldier, wounding others, and threatening leaders and civil servants in the building where I stand today.